Former Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has voiced his deep concern over the team’s struggles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, stressing that failure to qualify would be disastrous for Nigerian football. Oliseh highlighted that missing out on back-to-back World Cups would be especially painful given Nigeria’s rich footballing history and talent pool.

The Super Eagles have struggled in their qualifying group, currently sitting near the bottom of Group C with only three points after four matches. Augustine Eguavoen’s team faces mounting pressure as they aim to turn their campaign around in the upcoming matches.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s absence from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he spent six weeks working with FIFA’s Technical Study Group, Oliseh shared his disappointment. “It was incredibly difficult not to see Nigeria on that global stage, especially as I watched other African teams shine. Now, Africa could have as many as 10 countries represented at the next World Cup, but we’re at risk of missing out again, which would be disastrous,” he told Supersport TV.

With their World Cup hopes still alive but precarious, the Super Eagles will face Rwanda in their next qualifier in March 2025—a crucial match that could determine their path toward securing a place in the tournament.